title: [Euthanasia--limits of therapy in oncology from the physician's viewpoint].
abstract: The Hippocratic oath, which includes refraining from the prescription of deadly drugs or giving advice on suicide still remains the cornerstone of medical ethics. Therefore, any active fostering of the dying process has to be strictly rejected. Nevertheless, in caring for cancer patients, many borderline situations arise in which serious decisions about the continuation of a treatment regimen are called for--decisions basically equating to a choice between prolonging life or allowing death. As long as the patient is able to do so, he himself must decide and the physician has to respect his decision. However, often the patient is unable to determine his own fate. No easy general recommendations can be offered for such situations. The physician has to consider the specific characteristics of the disease and take into account the patient's individual needs. Then, for each case anew, a careful, conscientious decision has to be made and the physician must take personal responsibility for its consequences. In spite of treatment successes, death cannot be conquered, but only postponed. This knowledge helps the physician to recognize more clearly the realistic possibilities of medical aid and to empathically help the dying patient.
authors.affiliation: II. Medizinische Universitätsklinik, Wien.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ludwig
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001293:Attitude to Death; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005066:Euthanasia, Passive; D006625:Hippocratic Oath; D006801:Humans; D013727:Terminal Care
vernacular_title: Euthanasie--Grenzen der Therapie in der Onkologie aus der Sicht des Arztes.